Barry scores for Villa in UEFA Cup but O'Neill insists: He could still sign for Liverpool

Gareth Barry slipped effortlessly back into his old routine on a near perfect night for Martin O'Neill.

The England midfielder, under the gaze of international boss Fabio Capello, poked home after just four minutes as Aston Villa killed off this tie against their part-time Icelandic hosts inside the first quarter of the game.

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Barry scores for Villa

It was the ideal way to announce his return to the side as the odds lengthened yet still further on him completing an £18million move to Liverpool.

Barry had asked O'Neill to be included, and the Villa manager was happy to oblige.

'He's our player and he wanted to play in the game,' O'Neill insisted. 'We think he's mentally tuned into it so that's all that matters.'

As soon as Barry was named in Villa's line-up, his chances of a switch to Anfield receded again as his appearance last night renders him ineligible for any Champions League games until the New Year.

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Getting stuck in: Harewood (right) battles for Villa

However, O'Neill says the latest development does not necessarily rule out a move to Merseyside for the player.

He added: 'I wouldn't be particularly sure until the transfer deadline passes what might materialise, so we'll see.'

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The midfielder's goal was just the tonic for Villa on an evening when the first leg of this UEFA Cup tie served to do little more than sharpen O'Neill's players ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League kick-off against Manchester City.

The Villa boss said: 'I could not think at all about the game on Sunday until we had played tonight, but I was very pleased with some of the football we played.

'We obviously need to tighten up our defence if we could, but I was very pleased to win tonight.'

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Striking talent: Agbonlahor (right) is congratulated by Ashley Young

There was further good news for O'Neill as Curtis Davies returned to the starting line-up for the first time since rupturing his Achilles in March.

So, in all, a satisfying evening for the Villa boss who has had to endure a summer that has sparked into life in the last week thanks to the £17m splurge on Nicky Shorey, Luke Young and Carlos Cuellar.

News of a contract extension for John Carew, an absentee with a twisted ankle, only added to the positive vibe that is slowing returning to the club.

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Villain to hero: All eyes were on Gareth Barry

As if buoyed by that news, the visitors kicked-off with a spring in their step and were ahead with their first attack of note.

Ashley Young's cross ricocheted off several hapless defenders and Barry steered it inside the post from six yards.

In the celebration, Barry disappeared under a mass of claret and blue shirts as his team-mates showed their affection.

Three minutes later Young, who scored a goal-of-the-season contender in the previous round against Odense BK, beat his marker Hoskuldur Eiriksson and created enough room to crack a left-foot shot that keeper Gunnar Sigurdsson could only divert into the net.

Gabriel Agbonlahor killed off the tie seven minutes before the interval, racing past Eiriksson Tommy Nielsen and calmly clipping the ball into the net.

The Icelanders though, pulled one back when left winger Tryggvi Gudmundsson centered first-time for namesake Matthias Gudmundsson to head into the roof of the net.

It was a temporary set-back as Villa finished the job in the 64th minute when Martin Laursen rose unchallenged at to nod home Young's corner. It rounded off the evening neatly.

O'Neill added: 'They would have been disappointed to have conceded so early, but from our point of view it was obviously pleasing.

'I told the players before kick-off that I was concerned about the game and they responded in the correct manner.

'We are not good enough to take any opponents lightly and although there may be changes for the second leg I will be sending out a strong team.'